The choice between hardwood floors and laminate flooring can be quite confusing as there are many different options for each. Both of these types of flooring have pros and cons like anything else. The issues with them might be the deciding point for what you will buy and what will improve the value of your home. After you consider each one carefully you should make an informed decision.
The solid hardwood floor is the most durable and valuable to your home improvement project. They can cost a great deal when you are purchasing them and their installation is harder as well as more time consuming. You might want to have a professional install this type of flooring for you. There are two different types of hardwood to choose from. There is solid and manufactured hardwood.
The solid hardwood kind is a little bit more expensive than the manufactured kind. It is also more durable and will add the greatest value to your home. It generally does not require a backer board and can be installed onto the sub-floor that is already there. This type of hardwood most likely will come in plank form cut directly from trees. Each plank is one solid piece of bamboo, maple, adder, or oak.
The other type of hardwood is called manufactured hardwood. It is considerably less costly and less durable than solid hardwood. It is also harder to refinish. It is made up of different pieces of hardwood much like a composite. It is more expensive and more durable than laminate and less water sensitive than laminate. All wood flooring is water sensitive. You will need to tell the store which type of hardwood you would like.
Laminate flooring is completely manufactured and might not contain any actual wood. It generally looks like real wood should but that is just a photographic overlay. They are very water sensitive and if you put them in a heavy water area such as a kitchen or bathroom they will warp pretty badly. This type of flooring is basically made like particle board is. One of the benefits to it is that it is fairly cheap as far as flooring goes.
The problems with laminate flooring are similar to those of laminate anything. They are as I have said water sensitive, cannot be refinished, and do not last nearly as long as hardwood does. All forms of laminate flooring do add value to your home just not as much as hardwood does.
Hardwood floors are harder to install than laminate is. Most laminate comes precut to a tongue and groove pattern. There is even some that is snap together kind of like legos are. You have to follow the manufacturers instructions for installation and it does expand and contract so you might need to do what is called floating. Also this type of flooring might require backing to it.
Depending on what type of flooring you choose the value of your home will be increased greatly or only marginally. This project like many others can be difficult in older or less conventional homes. Consult a professional before beginning the job so you know exactly what is involved with it. Also you might want to fully consider all of your flooring options if you are thinking about hardwood floors and laminate flooring.
Finding beautiful hardwood floors for your home is fast and easy! Getting the right hardwood or laminate flooring will give your home the distinctive style that you want and is an affordable way to increase your home value quickly!
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